Gennady Golovkin vs Ryota Murata Preview April 9th, 2022
Gennady Golovkin of Kazakhstan brings his Big Drama Show to Saitama, Japan this Saturday, April 9th when he puts his IBF World Middleweight Title on the line against WBA Champion Ryota Murata of Japan. The 12-rounder can be seen live in most nations on DAZN with the card scheduled to begin at 5am ET. Golovkin last fought in December 2020 when he stopped Kamil Szeremeta after seven rounds. Murata last boxed in December, 2019 when he halted Steven Butler in the fifth round. GGG won the vacant IBF and IBO titles in May, 2019 with a close unanimous decision over Sergiy Derevyanchenko in a slugfest while Murata regained his title in July, 2019 when he avenged his unanimous decision defeat to Rob Brant by stopping him in the second round.
**Watch live on DAZN this Saturday. Your first month is free.
Golovkin vs Murata Betting Odds
Here are the betting odds from online sportsbook BetOnline.ag (full review here).
- Ryota Murata +375
- Gennady Golovkin -550
My Pick
Golovkin will turn 40 years old the day before the fight and enters the ring with an official mark of 41-1-1 with 36 Kos. However, he arguably won both decisions against Canelo Alvarez in 2017 and 2018 despite being handed a draw in the first meeting and a close majority decision loss in the second. Golovkin is known for his power with a current knockout ratio of 83.7 per cent and owned a streak of 23 straight knockouts until beating Danny Jacobs by unanimous decision in March, 2017.
Since then he’s gone the distance twice with Alvarez, stopped Steve Rolls and Vanes Martirosyan, gone the distance with Derevyanchenko and stopped Szeremeta. Golovkin’s power may be slightly diminished these days but he still managed to drop Jacobs and also wobbled Alvarez in both fights. The IBF champ stands just over 5-feet-10-inches tall with a 70-inch reach and turned pro back in 2006 after a fine amateur career.
He’s fought 219 rounds since then with his stiffest competition being Alvarez, Jacobs, Derevyanchenko, Kell Brook, David Lemieux, Willie Monroe Jr., Marco Antonio Rubio, Martin Murray, Daniel Geale, Curtis Stevens, Matthew Macklin and Gabriel Rosado. He was attempting to defend his title for the 21st time when losing his WBC and WBA belts to Alvarez in September, 2018. Golovkin isn’t perfect, but simply goes about his job no matter who he faces.
He’s also shown to have a granite chin to go along with his power and fine boxing skills. Golovkin isn’t afraid of getting hit while he unleashes fierce body and head shots but can also be patient while stalking his prey. He’s usually in great shape and just keeps coming and eventually wears the majority of his opponents down. Still, it’s probably fair to say Golovkin’s a KO artist and in fact he’s one of the best ever in the middleweight division.
The 36-year-old Murata originally won the WBA Title from Hassan N’Dam N’Jikam in October, 2017 by stopping him after the seventh round. N’Jikam had taken the vacant title in a bout against Murata just five months earlier by a controversial split decision. Murata’s first defence was an eighth-round stoppage of European Champion Emanuele Felice Blandamura in April, 2018 before losing it to Rob Brant when he was easily outboxed.
Murata isn’t lacking boxing skills himself though as he won a gold medal in the middleweight division at the 2012 Olympics in London, England. He turned pro the next year and has boxed 111 rounds since then and enters the ring with a record of 16-2 with 13 Kos. Murata stands just over six-feet tall with a 75-inch reach which gives him a two-inch edge in height and a five-inch reach advantage over Golovkin.
Other than meeting N’Dam and Brant twice each he hasn’t exactly fought the cream of the crop in the middleweight division as he’s beaten the likes of Akio Shibata, Carlos Nascimento, Jessie Nicklow, Gunnar Jackson and Bruno Sandoval. Murata also possesses an excellent chin to go along with his power and owns a current knockout ratio of 72.2 per cent. He lacks hand and foot speed though and paid for it the first time around against Brant.
Murata has an aggressive style of boxing as he likes to dig his heavy punches into his opponents’ body as much as he does the head. Like, Golovkin, he also has a crowd-pleasing way of boxing but he may want to sharpen up his defensive skills if possible as he isn’t the hardest guy to hit. He’s stepping up in class this weekend and his chin will likely be tested like never before. But win or lose, Murata is going to come out swinging.
Prediction…
Both boxers are getting up there in age and haven’t fought for quite some time. But they’re both heavy hitters who can also soak up a lot of punishment. This fight isn’t for the squeamish as it could turn into a brutal slugfest and has the potential to be a fight of the year candidate. It’s going to be a war of attrition for as long as it lasts and this bout could go either way with a draw a possibility, but I’d give Golovkin a close edge as I feel his boxing skills are underrated.
Golovkin’s boxing skills could be the difference if it goes the distance.
Play: Golovkin -550 @ BetOnline.ag
Check out my recent boxing betting picks to see my current form.
Gennady Golovkin betting • Ryota Murata betting